Hydrophilic compounds for optically active devices

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to novel compounds, particularly to hydrophilic compounds, comprising a photoactive unit, said novel compounds being particularly suitable for ophthalmic devices. The present application also relates to ophthalmic devices comprising such compounds.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to novel compounds, particularly to hydrophilic compounds, comprising a photoactive unit, said novel compounds being particularly suitable for ophthalmic devices. The present application also relates to ophthalmic devices comprising such compounds.

BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Cataract is a general term of an affection of the eye that leads to a loss of vision and in the extreme to blindness by clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye. It is the major cause of blindness in the world with it affecting more than 100 million people. Due to the fact that its major cause is age, it is expected that with the population's average age continuing to increase the number of cataracts will continue to increase substantially in the future.

Effective treatment of cataract is only possible by surgical intervention, whereby the natural lens of the eye is removed through an incision in the cornea and replaced with an artificial lens, often also referred to as “intraocular lens”. In preparation of surgery current state-of-the-art surgical methods employ methods for eye mapping so as to approximate the refractive power best suited to the respective patient.

Even though cataract surgery is one of the most widely used and safest surgical procedures it is not without specific post-surgery problems. It frequently happens that the refractive power of the implanted intraocular lens (IOL) is insufficient for restoring good vision. Such problems may, for example, be caused by changes in eye geometry in consequence of the surgery as well as irregular wound healing and positioning errors that result in the artificial lens not having the optimal optical properties. As a result the patient will still require corrective vision aids, e.g. glasses, to be able to see correctly. In some cases the resulting refractive power of the implanted artificial lens is so far removed from the required refractive power that further surgery will be required. Particularly for aged persons this is not desirable because the body's capability for healing are reduced with increasing age. Furthermore, there is the risk of attracting endophthalmitis, an inflammation of the eye, which can even lead to a complete loss of vision or worse, loss of the eye.

There is therefore a need in the health sector for optically active devices, and particularly artificial intraocular lenses, that would allow for non-invasive adjustment of refractive power after implantation of the lens, thereby preferably further reducing the need for post-surgery vision aids.

Some developments in this sense have already been made, as for example evidenced by WO 2007/033831 A1.

However, the compounds disclosed therein suffer from being too stiff and too brittle so that they can't be rolled or folded and are thus not fit to be implanted by state of the art cataract surgical methods, particularly by state of the art micro-incision cataract surgical methods.

Consequently, it is an objective of the present application to provide for novel compounds suitable for ophthalmic devices.

It is also an objective of the present application to provide for compounds, the optical properties of which may be changed, preferably by non-invasive techniques.

It is a further objective of the present application to provide for novel compounds that are more flexible than the currently known compounds, preferably in combination with being suitable for ophthalmic devices.

Further advantages and objectives of the compounds of the present application will be evident to the skilled person from the following detailed description as well as from the examples.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present inventors have now surprisingly found that the above objects may be attained either individually or in any combination by the compounds and ophthalmic devices of the present application.

The present application therefore provides for a compound of formula (I)

wherein

-   a is 0 or 1; -   a′ is 0 or 1; -   R¹, R² and R³ are at each occurrence independently selected from the     group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, alkyl having from 1 to 20     carbon atoms, partially or completely halogenated alkyl having from     1 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl and heteroaryl; -   one or both of R⁴ and R⁵ is a group of formula (II)

-   -   and, if only one group of R⁴ and R⁵ is of formula (II), the         other of R⁴ and R⁵ is selected from the group consisting of H,         F, Cl, Br, I, alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, partially         or completely halogenated alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon         atoms, aryl, heteroaryl, and R⁶—Sp-[X¹]_(a)—*;

-   R⁶ is a carbyl group for a′=1 and for a′=0 is selected from the     group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, alkyl having from 1 to 20     carbon atoms, partially or completely halogenated alkyl having from     1 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl and heteroaryl;

-   Sp is selected from the group consisting of alkanediyl, alkenediyl     and alkyndiyl, wherein at least one hydrogen has been replaced with     OH;

-   X¹, X² and X³ are independently of each other selected from the     group consisting of O, S and N—R¹⁷;

-   R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ are at each occurrence independently of     each other selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I,     R⁶—Sp-[X¹]_(a)—* and R¹⁵, wherein any two adjacent groups of R¹⁰,     R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ that are R¹⁵ may also form a ring system;

-   R¹⁵ is at each occurrence independently selected from the group     consisting of alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, partially or     completely halogenated alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms,     alkoxy having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, partially or completely     halogenated alkoxy having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, thioalkyl     having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and partially or completely     halogenated thioalkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms; and

-   R¹⁷ is at each occurrence independently selected from the group     consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon     atoms, partially or completely halogenated alkyl having from 1 to 20     carbon atoms, aryl and heteroaryl,     provided that the compound of formula (I) comprises at least one     group R⁶—Sp-[X¹]_(a)—*.

The present application also provides for a composition comprising said compound as well as for an article comprising said composition.

In addition, the present application provides for a process of forming such article, said process comprising the steps of

-   a) providing a composition comprising said compound; -   b) subsequently forming the article of said composition.

Furthermore, the present application provides for a process for changing the optical properties of such article, said process comprising the steps of

-   a) providing said article, and -   b) subsequently exposing said article to irradiation having a     wavelength of at least 200 nm and at most 1500 nm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For the purposes of the present application an asterisk (“*”) denotes a linkage to an adjacent unit or group or, in case of a polymer, to an adjacent repeating unit or any other group.

For the purposes of the present application the term “organyl group” is used to denote any organic substituent group, regardless of functional type, having one free valence at a carbon atom.

For the purposes of the present application the term “organoheteryl group” is used to denote any univalent group comprising carbon, said group thus being organic, but having the free valence at an atom other than carbon.

For the purposes of the present application the term “carbyl group” includes both, organyl groups and organoheteryl groups.

As used herein, the term “carbyl group” will be understood to include any monovalent or multivalent organic radical moiety which comprises at least one carbon atom either without any non-carbon atoms (like for example —C≡C—), or optionally comprising one or more heteroatoms (for example carbonyl etc.).

The term “hydrocarbyl group” will be understood to mean a carbyl group that does additionally contain one or more H atoms and optionally contains one or more hetero atoms.

As used herein, the term “hetero atom” will be understood to mean an atom in an organic compound that is not a H- or C-atom, and preferably will be understood to mean N, O, S, P, Si, Se, As, Te or Ge, more preferably N, O, S, P and Si.

The compound of the present application is of the following formula (I)

wherein a, a′, R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, Sp, X¹, X², X³ and X⁴ are as defined herein, provided that the compound of formula (I) comprises one group R⁶—Sp-[X¹]_(a)—* as defined herein. The expression “comprises one group R⁶—Sp-[X¹]_(a)—*” is to denote in this context that the compound of formula (I) comprises only one such group.

The compound of formula (I) is preferably a compound of formula (I′) or a compound of formula (I″).

a is 0 or 1. Preferably a is 1.

a′—if present—is 0 or 1.

R¹, R² and R³ are at each occurrence independently selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, partially or completely halogenated alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl and heteroaryl. Most preferably, R¹, R² and R³ are all H.

One or both, preferably one, of R⁴ and R⁵ is a group of formula (II)

with R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ as defined herein. If only one of R⁴ and R⁵ is a group of formula (II), the other of R⁴ and R⁵ is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, partially or completely halogenated alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl, heteroaryl and R⁶—Sp-[X¹]_(a)—*. Preferably R⁴ is H and R⁵ is a group of formula (II) as defined herein.

R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ are at each occurrence independently of each other selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, R⁶—Sp-[X¹]_(a)—* and R¹⁵ as defined herein. Preferably R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ are at each occurrence independently of each other selected from the group consisting of H, F, and R¹⁵ as defined herein.

Preferably at least one or two or three or four or all of R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴, more preferably at least one or two or all of R¹⁰, R¹² and R¹⁴, even more preferably at least one or all of R¹⁰ and R¹⁴, still even more preferably R¹⁰ only, and most preferably all of R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ is/are H.

Preferably for the compound of formula (I′) one or both, preferably one, of R⁴ and R⁵ is a group of formula (II) with R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ being at each occurrence independently of each other selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, and R¹⁵ as defined herein and preferably with R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ being at each occurrence independently of each other selected from the group consisting of H, F, and R¹⁵ as defined herein, wherein any two adjacent groups of R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ that are R¹⁵ may also form a ring system; and if only one of R⁴ and R⁵ is a group of formula (II), the other of R⁴ and R⁵ is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, partially or completely halogenated alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl and heteroaryl.

For the compound of formula (I″) one of groups R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ is R⁶—Sp-[X¹]_(a)—*. Thus, preferably for such compound one or both, preferably one, of R⁴ and R⁵ is a group of formula (II) with one of R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ being R⁶-Sp-[X¹]_(a)—* and the others being at each occurrence independently of each other selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, and R¹⁵ as defined herein, wherein any two adjacent groups of R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ that are R¹⁵ may also form a ring system.

Alternatively, for the compound of formula (I″) one group R⁴ and R⁵ is R⁶—Sp-[X¹]_(a)—*. Thus, preferably for such compound one of R⁴ and R⁵ is R⁶—Sp-[X¹]_(a)—* and the other of R⁴ and R⁵ is a group of formula (II) with R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ being at each occurrence independently of each other selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, and R¹⁵ as defined herein and preferably with R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ being at each occurrence independently of each other selected from the group consisting of H, F, and R¹⁵ as defined herein, wherein any two adjacent groups of R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ that are R¹⁵ may also form a ring system.

R¹⁵ is at each occurrence independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, partially or completely halogenated (preferably fluorinated) alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, alkoxy having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, partially or completely halogenated alkoxy having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, thioalkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and partially or completely halogenated thioalkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms. More preferably, R¹⁵ is at each occurrence independently selected from the group consisting of partially or completely halogenated (preferably fluorinated) alkyl having from 1 to 20 (for example, from 1 to 10 or from 1 to 5, or from 1 to 3, or 1) carbon atoms. Most preferably, R¹⁵ is —CF₃.

Any two adjacent groups of R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ that are R¹⁵ may also form a ring system, preferably a six-membered ring system. Such ring system may be aromatic or non-aromatic. Such ring system, if non-aromatic, may be saturated or unsaturated, for example comprising a double bond. Optionally such ring system may be substituted, i.e. one or more of the hydrogens is replaced with H, F, Cl, Br, I, alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, partially or completely halogenated alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl and heteroaryl.

R⁶ is a carbyl group for a′=1 and for a′=0 is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, partially or completely halogenated alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl and heteroaryl.

A carbyl or hydrocarbyl group comprising a chain of 3 or more C atoms may be straight-chain, branched and/or cyclic, including spiro and/or fused rings.

Preferred carbyl and hydrocarbyl groups include alkyl, alkoxy, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylcarbonyloxy and alkoxycarbonyloxy, each of which is optionally substituted and has 1 to 40, preferably 1 to 25, very preferably 1 to 18 C atoms, furthermore optionally substituted aryl or aryloxy having 6 to 40, preferably 6 to 25 C atoms, furthermore alkylaryloxy, arylcarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl, arylcarbonyloxy and aryloxycarbonyloxy, each of which is optionally substituted and has 6 to 40, preferably 7 to 30 C atoms, wherein all these groups do optionally contain one or more hetero atoms, preferably selected from N, O, S, P, Si, Se, As, Te and Ge, more preferably N, O, S, P and Si.

The carbyl or hydrocarbyl group may be a saturated or unsaturated acyclic group, or a saturated or unsaturated cyclic group. Unsaturated acyclic or cyclic groups are preferred, especially aryl, alkenyl and alkynyl groups. Where the C₁-C₄₀ carbyl or hydrocarbyl group is acyclic, the group may be straight-chain or branched. The C₁-C₄₀ carbyl or hydrocarbyl group includes for example: a C₁-C₄₀ alkyl group, a C₁-C₄₀ fluoroalkyl group, a C₁-C₄₀ alkoxy or oxaalkyl group, a C₂-C₄₀ alkenyl group, a C₂-C₄₀ alkynyl group, a C₃-C₄₀ allyl group, a C₄-C₄₀ alkyldienyl group, a C₄-C₄₀ polyenyl group, a C₂-C₄₀ ketone group, a C₂-C₄₀ ester group, a C₆-C₁₈ aryl group, a C₆-C₄₀ alkylaryl group, a C₆-C₄₀ arylalkyl group, a C₄-C₄₀ cycloalkyl group, a C₄-C₄₀ cycloalkenyl group, and the like. Preferred among the foregoing groups are a C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, a C₁-C₂₀ fluoroalkyl group, a C₂-C₂₀ alkenyl group, a C₂-C₂₀ alkynyl group, a C₃-C₂₀ allyl group, a C₄-C₂₀ alkyldienyl group, a C₂-C₂₀ ketone group, a C₂-C₂₀ ester group, a C₆-C₁₂ aryl group, and a C₄-C₂₀ polyenyl group, respectively.

The terms “aryl” and “heteroaryl” as used herein preferably mean a mono-, bi- or tricyclic aromatic or heteroaromatic group with 4 to 30 ring C atoms that may also comprise condensed rings and is optionally substituted with one or more groups L, wherein L is selected from halogen, —CN, —NC, —NCO, —NCS, —OCN, —SCN, —C(═O)NR⁰R⁰⁰, —C(═O)X⁰, —C(═O)R⁰, —NH₂, —NR⁰R⁰⁰, —SH, —SR⁰, —SO₃H, —SO₂R⁰, —OH, —NO₂, —CF₃, —SF₅, or carbyl or hydrocarbyl with 1 to 40 C atoms that is optionally substituted and optionally comprises one or more hetero atoms, and is preferably alkyl, alkoxy, thioalkyl, alkylcarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl or alkoxycarbonyloxy with 1 to 20 C atoms that is optionally fluorinated, and R⁰, R⁰⁰ and X⁰ have the meanings given above and below.

R⁰, R⁰⁰ and R⁰⁰⁰ are at each occurrence independently of each other selected from the group consisting of H, F and hydrocarbyl having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms. Said hydrocarbyl preferably has at least 5 carbon atoms. Said hydrocarbyl preferably has at most 30, more preferably at most 25 or 20, even more preferably at most 20, and most preferably at most 12 carbon atoms. Preferably, R⁰, R⁰⁰ and R⁰⁰⁰ are at each occurrence independently of each other selected from the group consisting of H, F, alkyl, fluorinated alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl and fluorinated phenyl. More preferably, R⁰, R⁰⁰ and R⁰⁰⁰ are at each occurrence independently of each other selected from the group consisting of H, F, alkyl, fluorinated, preferably perfluorinated, alkyl, phenyl and fluorinated, preferably perfluorinated, phenyl.

It is noted that for example alkyl suitable as R⁰, R⁰⁰ and R⁰⁰⁰ also includes perfluorinated alkyl, i.e. alkyl wherein all of the hydrogen are replaced by fluorine.

Examples of suitable alkyls may be selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, iso-butyl, tert-butyl (or “t-butyl”), pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, nonadecyl and eicosyl (—C₂₀H₄₁).

X⁰ is halogen. Preferably X⁰ is selected from the group consisting of F, Cl and Br.

Very preferred substituents L are selected from halogen, most preferably F, or alkyl, alkoxy, oxoalkyl, thioalkyl, fluoroalkyl and fluoroalkoxy with 1 to 12 C atoms or alkenyl and alkynyl with 2 to 12 C atoms.

Especially preferred aryl and heteroaryl groups are phenyl, phenyl wherein one or more CH groups are replaced by N, naphthalene, thiophene, selenophene, thienothiophene, dithienothiophene, fluorene and oxazole, all of which can be unsubstituted, mono- or polysubstituted with L as defined above. Very preferred rings are selected from pyrrole, preferably N-pyrrole, furan, pyridine, preferably 2- or 3-pyridine, pyrimidine, pyridazine, pyrazine, triazole, tetrazole, pyrazole, imidazole, isothiazole, thiazole, thiadiazole, isoxazole, oxazole, oxadiazole, thiophene, preferably 2-thiophene, selenophene, preferably 2-selenophene, thieno[3,2-b]thiophene, thieno[2,3-b]thiophene, furo[3,2-b]furan, furo[2,3-b]furan, seleno[3,2-b]selenophene, seleno[2,3-b]selenophene, thieno[3,2-b]selenophene, thieno[3,2-b]furan, indole, isoindole, benzo[b]furan, benzo[b]thiophene, benzo[1,2-b;4,5-b′]dithiophene, benzo[2,1-b;3,4-b′]dithiophene, quinole, 2-methylquinole, isoquinole, quinoxaline, quinazoline, benzotriazole, benzimidazole, benzothiazole, benzisothiazole, benzisoxazole, benzoxadiazole, benzoxazole, benzothiadiazole, all of which can be unsubstituted, mono- or polysubstituted with L as defined above.

An alkyl or alkoxy radical, i.e. where the terminal CH₂ group is replaced by —O—, can be straight-chain or branched. It is preferably straight-chain (or linear). Suitable examples of such alkyl and alkoxy radical are methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentadecyl, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, pentoxy, hexoxy, heptoxy, octoxy, nonoxy, decoxy, ethylhexyl, undecoxy, dodecoxy, tridecoxy or tetradecoxy. Preferred alkyl and alkoxy radicals have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 carbon atoms. Suitable examples of such preferred alkyl and alkoxy radicals may be selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, ethylhexyl, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, butoxy, pentoxy, hexoxy, heptoxy, octoxy, nonoxy and decoxy.

An alkenyl group, wherein one or more CH₂ groups are replaced by —CH═CH— can be straight-chain or branched. It is preferably straight-chain, has 2 to 10 C atoms and accordingly is preferably vinyl, prop-1-enyl, prop-2-enyl, but-1-enyl, but-2-enyl, but-3-enyl, pent-1-enyl, pent-2-enyl, pent-3-enyl or pent-4-enyl, hex-1-enyl, hex-2-enyl, hex-3-enyl, hex-4-enyl or hex-5-enyl, hept-1-enyl, hept-2-enyl, hept-3-enyl, hept-4-enyl, hept-5-enyl or hept-6-enyl, oct-1-enyl, oct-2-enyl, oct-3-enyl, oct-4-enyl, oct-5-enyl, oct-6-enyl or oct-7-enyl, non-1-enyl, non-2-enyl, non-3-enyl, non-4-enyl, non-5-enyl, non-6-enyl, non-7-enyl or non-8-enyl, dec-1-enyl, dec-2-enyl, dec-3-enyl, dec-4-enyl, dec-5-enyl, dec-6-enyl, dec-7-enyl, dec-8-enyl or dec-9-enyl.

Especially preferred alkenyl groups are C₂-C₇-1E-alkenyl, C₄-C₇-3E-alkenyl, C₅-C₇-4-alkenyl, C₆-C₇-5-alkenyl and C₇-6-alkenyl, in particular C₂-C₇-1E-alkenyl, C₄-C₇-3E-alkenyl and C₅-C₇-4-alkenyl. Examples for particularly preferred alkenyl groups are vinyl, 1E-propenyl, 1E-butenyl, 1E-pentenyl, 1E-hexenyl, 1E-heptenyl, 3-butenyl, 3E-pentenyl, 3E-hexenyl, 3E-heptenyl, 4-pentenyl, 4Z-hexenyl, 4E-hexenyl, 4Z-heptenyl, 5-hexenyl, 6-heptenyl and the like. Alkenyl groups having up to 5 C atoms are generally preferred.

An oxoalkyl group, i.e. where one CH₂ group is replaced by —O—, is preferably straight-chain 2-oxapropyl (=methoxymethyl), 2-(=ethoxymethyl) or 3-oxabutyl (=2-methoxyethyl), 2-, 3-, or 4-oxapentyl, 2-, 3-, 4-, or 5-oxahexyl, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, or 6-oxaheptyl, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-oxaoctyl, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7- or 8-oxanonyl or 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8- or 9-oxadecyl, for example. Oxaalkyl, i.e. where one CH₂ group is replaced by —O—, is preferably straight-chain 2-oxapropyl (=methoxymethyl), 2-(=ethoxymethyl) or 3-oxabutyl (=2-methoxyethyl), 2-, 3-, or 4-oxapentyl, 2-, 3-, 4-, or 5-oxahexyl, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, or 6-oxaheptyl, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- or 7-oxaoctyl, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7- or 8-oxanonyl or 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8- or 9-oxadecyl, for example.

In an alkyl group wherein one CH₂ group is replaced by —O— and one by —C(O)—, these radicals are preferably neighboured. Accordingly these radicals together form a carbonyloxy group —C(O)—O— or an oxycarbonyl group —O—C(O)—. Preferably this group is straight-chain and has 2 to 6 C atoms. It is accordingly preferably selected from the group consisting of acetyloxy, propionyloxy, butyryloxy, pentanoyloxy, hexanoyloxy, acetyloxymethyl, propionyloxymethyl, butyryloxymethyl, pentanoyloxymethyl, 2-acetyloxyethyl, 2-propionyloxyethyl, 2-butyryloxyethyl, 3-acetyloxypropyl, 3-propionyloxypropyl, 4-acetyloxybutyl, methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, propoxycarbonyl, butoxycarbonyl, pentoxycarbonyl, methoxycarbonylmethyl, ethoxycarbonylmethyl, propoxycarbonylmethyl, butoxycarbonylmethyl, 2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl, 2-(ethoxycarbonyl)ethyl, 2-(propoxycarbonyl)ethyl, 3-(methoxycarbonyl)propyl, 3-(ethoxycarbonyl)propyl, and 4-(methoxycarbonyl)-butyl.

An alkyl group wherein two or more CH₂ groups are replaced by —O— and/or —C(O)O— can be straight-chain or branched. It is preferably straight-chain and has 3 to 12 C atoms. Accordingly it is preferably selected from the group consisting of bis-carboxy-methyl, 2,2-bis-carboxy-ethyl, 3,3-bis-carboxy-propyl, 4,4-bis-carboxy-butyl, 5,5-bis-carboxy-pentyl, 6,6-bis-carboxy-hexyl, 7,7-bis-carboxy-heptyl, 8,8-bis-carboxy-octyl, 9,9-bis-carboxy-nonyl, 10,10-bis-carboxy-decyl, bis-(methoxycarbonyl)-methyl, 2,2-bis-(methoxycarbonyl)-ethyl, 3,3-bis-(methoxycarbonyl)-propyl, 4,4-bis-(methoxycarbonyl)-butyl, 5,5-bis-(methoxycarbonyl)-pentyl, 6,6-bis-(methoxycarbonyl)-hexyl, 7,7-bis-(methoxycarbonyl)-heptyl, 8,8-bis-(methoxycarbonyl)-octyl, bis-(ethoxycarbonyl)-methyl, 2,2-bis-(ethoxycarbonyl)-ethyl, 3,3-bis-(ethoxycarbonyl)-propyl, 4,4-bis-(ethoxycarbonyl)-butyl, and 5,5-bis-(ethoxycarbonyl)-hexyl.

A thioalkyl group, i.e where one CH₂ group is replaced by —S—, is preferably straight-chain thiomethyl (—SCH₃), 1-thioethyl (—SCH₂CH₃), 1-thiopropyl (=—SCH₂CH₂CH₃), 1-(thiobutyl), 1-(thiopentyl), 1-(thiohexyl), 1-(thioheptyl), 1-(thiooctyl), 1-(thiononyl), 1-(thiodecyl), 1-(thioundecyl) or 1-(thiododecyl), wherein preferably the CH₂ group adjacent to the sp² hybridised vinyl carbon atom is replaced.

A fluoroalkyl group is preferably perfluoroalkyl C_(i)F_(2i+1), wherein i is an integer from 1 to 15, in particular CF₃, C₂F₅, C₃F₇, C₄F₉, C₅F₁₁, C₆F₁₃, C₇F₁₅ or C₈F₁₇, very preferably C₆F₁₃, or partially fluorinated alkyl, in particular 1,1-difluoroalkyl, all of which are straight-chain or branched.

Alkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, oxaalkyl, thioalkyl, carbonyl and carbonyloxy groups can be achiral or chiral groups. Particularly preferred chiral groups are 2-butyl (=1-methylpropyl), 2-methylbutyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 2-ethylhexyl, 2-propylpentyl, in particular 2-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutoxy, 2-methylpentoxy, 3-methylpentoxy, 2-ethyl-hexoxy, 1-methylhexoxy, 2-octyloxy, 2-oxa-3-methylbutyl, 3-oxa-4-methyl-pentyl, 4-methylhexyl, 2-hexyl, 2-octyl, 2-nonyl, 2-decyl, 2-dodecyl, 6-meth-oxyoctoxy, 6-methyloctoxy, 6-methyloctanoyloxy, 5-methylheptyloxy-carbonyl, 2-methylbutyryloxy, 3-methylvaleroyloxy, 4-methylhexanoyloxy, 2-chloropropionyloxy, 2-chloro-3-methylbutyryloxy, 2-chloro-4-methyl-valeryl-oxy, 2-chloro-3-methylvaleryloxy, 2-methyl-3-oxapentyl, 2-methyl-3-oxa-hexyl, 1-methoxypropyl-2-oxy, 1-ethoxypropyl-2-oxy, 1-propoxypropyl-2-oxy, 1-butoxypropyl-2-oxy, 2-fluorooctyloxy, 2-fluorodecyloxy, 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-octyloxy, 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-octyl, 2-fluoromethyloctyloxy for example. Very preferred are 2-hexyl, 2-octyl, 2-octyloxy, 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-hexyl, 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-octyl and 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-octyloxy.

Preferred achiral branched groups are isopropyl, isobutyl (=methylpropyl), isopentyl (=3-methylbutyl), sec-butyl, tert-butyl, isopropoxy, 2-methyl-propoxy, 3-methylbutoxy, duryl and ethylhexyl

In a preferred embodiment, the hydrocarbyl groups are independently of each other selected from primary, secondary or tertiary alkyl or alkoxy with 1 to 30 C atoms, wherein one or more H atoms are optionally replaced by F, or aryl, aryloxy, heteroaryl or heteroaryloxy that is optionally alkylated or alkoxylated and has 4 to 30 ring atoms. Very preferred groups of this type are selected from the group consisting of the following formulae

wherein “ALK” denotes optionally fluorinated alkyl or alkoxy with 1 to 20, preferably 1 to 12 C-atoms, in case of tertiary groups very preferably 1 to 9 C atoms.

Sp is selected from the group consisting of alkanediyl, alkenediyl and alkyndiyl (*—C≡C—*), wherein at least one hydrogen has been replaced with OH. Preferably Sp is selected from the group consisting of alkanediyl, alkenediyl and alkyndiyl, wherein at least two hydrogens have been replaced with OH.

Preferably said alkanediyl has at least 1 carbon atom, more preferably at least 2 or 3 carbon atoms, even more preferably at least 4 carbon atoms, still even more preferably at least 5 carbon atoms, and most preferably at least 6 carbon atoms. Preferably said alkenediyl has at least 2 carbon atoms, more preferably at least 3 carbon atoms, even more preferably at least 4 carbon atoms, still even more preferably at least 5 carbon atoms, and most preferably at least 6 carbon atoms.

Preferably said alkyndiyl has at least 3 carbon atoms, more preferably at least 4 carbon atoms, even more preferably at least 5 carbon atoms, and most preferably at least 6 carbon atoms.

Preferably said alkanediyl, alkenediyl or alkyndiyl has at most 20 carbon atoms, more preferably at most 19 or 18 carbon atoms, even more preferably at most 17 or 16 carbon atoms, still even more preferably at most 15 or 14 carbon atoms and most preferably at most 13 or 12 carbon atoms.

Sp may, for example, be represented by the following formula (III)

—[C(R⁷)(R⁸)]_(b)—  (III)

wherein b, R⁷ and R⁸ are as defined herein.

b is at least 1, preferably at least 2, more preferably at least 4, even more preferably at least 5. b is at most 20, preferably at most 19, more preferably at most 18, even more preferably at most 17, still even more preferably at most 16 and most preferably at most 15.

If b is at least two, two neighboring groups C(R⁷)(R⁸) may be replaced by an alkenediyl.

If b is at least three, two neighboring groups C(R⁷)(R⁸) may be replaced by an alkyndiyl.

R⁷ and R⁸ are independently of each other H or OH, provided that at least one, preferably at least two, of the R⁷ and R⁸ present is/are OH.

Alternatively Sp may, for example, be represented by the following formulae (III-a)

—[C(R^(7′))(R^(8′))]_(b1)—[C(R^(7″))(R^(8″))]_(b2)—[C(R^(7′″))(R^(8′″))]_(b3)—  (III-a)

wherein R^(7′), R^(8′), R^(7″), R^(8″), R^(7′″), R^(8′″), b1, b2 and b3 are as defined herein.

The sum of b1, b2 and b3 is b, i.e. b1+b2+b3=b. Preferably, at least one of b1 or b3 is at least 1 and b2 is 1. More preferably b1, b2 and b3 are all at least 1.

Most preferably b1 and b3 are at least 1 and b2 is 1.

If b1 is at least two, two neighboring groups C(R^(7′))(R^(8′)) may be replaced by an alkenediyl. If b2 is at least two, two neighboring groups C(R^(7″))(R^(8″)) may be replaced by an alkenediyl. If b3 is at least two, two neighboring groups C(R^(7′″))(R^(8′″)) may be replaced by an alkenediyl.

If b1 is at least two, two neighboring groups C(R^(7′))(R^(8′)) may be replaced by an alkyndiyl. If b2 is at least two, two neighboring groups C(R^(7″))(R^(8″)) may be replaced by an alkyndiyl. If b3 is at least two, two neighboring groups C(R^(7′″))(R^(8′″)) may be replaced by an alkyndiyl.

R^(7′), R^(8′), R^(7″), R^(8″), R^(7′″), R^(8′″) are independently of each other at each occurrence independently H or OH, provided that at least one of R^(7′), R^(8′), R^(7″), R^(8″), R^(7′″), R^(8′″) is OH.

Preferably R^(7′), R^(8′), R^(7′″) and R^(8′″)— if present—are H and at least one of R^(7″) and R^(8″) is OH.

Suitable examples of Sp may, for example, be selected from the following formulae (III-1) to (III-7)

X¹, X² and X³ are independently of each other selected from the group consisting of O, S and N—R¹⁷ with R¹⁷ as defined herein.

Preferably X¹ is O.

Preferably X² is O or S. Most preferably X² is O.

Preferably X³ is O or N—R¹⁷. Most preferably X³ is O.

R¹⁷ is at each occurrence independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, partially or completely halogenated alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms and aryl. Preferably R¹⁷ is H.

Preferably, the compound of formula (I) is an olefinic compound, wherein R⁶ comprises an olefinically unsaturated group. Preferably R⁶ is a group of formula (IV-A)

wherein X⁴, c, R²⁰, R²¹ and R²² are as defined herein.

More preferably said olefinic compound comprises a group of formula (IV-A′)

wherein X¹, a, Sp, X⁴, c, R²⁰, R²¹ and R²² are as defined herein.

Preferred examples of such olefinic compounds may be represented by any one selected from the group consisting of the following formulae (I-A′), (I-A″-1), (I-A″-2), (I-A′″-1) and (I-A′″-2)

wherein one of R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ is a group of formula R⁶—Sp-[X¹]_(a)—* and R⁶ is a group of formula (IV-A) as defined herein;

wherein one of R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ is a group of formula R⁶-Sp-[X¹]_(a)—* and R⁶ is a group of formula (IV-A) as defined herein;

wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, X¹, X², X³, X⁴, a, c, R²⁰, R²¹ and R²² are as defined herein.

c is 0 or 1.

R²⁰, R²¹ and R²² are carbyl. Preferably R²⁰, R²¹ and R²² are at each occurrence independently of each other selected from the group consisting of H, F, alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, partially or completely halogenated alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl and heteroaryl. More preferably R²⁰, R²¹ and R²² are at each occurrence independently of each other selected from the group consisting of H, F, alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, partially or completely halogenated alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms and aryl.

X⁴ is selected from the group consisting of O, S, C(═O), C(═O)O and N—R¹⁷, with R¹⁷ as defined herein. Preferably X⁴ is O.

It is noted that C(═O)O may be inserted in any direction, i.e. C(═O)O with the —O— group adjacent to Sp or OC(═O) with the —O— group adjacent to the olefinically unsaturated group.

The compounds of the present application may be synthesized using standard organic reactions that are generally known to the skilled person. An exemplary synthesis of a compound of formula (I) wherein R⁶ is an olefinically unsaturated group is shown in Scheme 1. Further syntheses are given in the examples. An exemplary polymerization reaction is shown in Scheme 2. Further polymerization reactions are given in the examples.

Preferably the compound of the present application is an oligomer or polymer, wherein R⁶ is the polymer backbone or wherein R⁶ is part of the polymer backbone. Preferably, such oligomer or polymer comprises a constitutional unit M⁰ of formula (IV-B), i.e. R⁶ is a group of formula (IV-B)

wherein X⁴, c, R²⁰, R²¹ and R²² are as defined herein. More preferably, such oligomer or polymer comprises a constitutional unit M° of formula (IV-B′)

Preferably, such oligomer or polymer comprises at least one constitutional unit M¹ selected from the group consisting of the following formulae (I-B′), (I-B″-1), (I-B″-2), (I-B′″-1) and (I-B′″-2)

wherein one of R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ is a group of formula R⁶—Sp-[X¹]_(a)—* and R⁶ is a group of formula (IV-B) as defined herein;

wherein one of R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ is a group of formula R⁶—Sp-[X]_(a)—* and R⁶ is a group of formula (IV-B) as defined herein;

said at least one unit M¹ being—if there are two or more, at each occurrence the same or different, wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, X¹, X², X³, X⁴, a, c, R²⁰, R²¹ and R²² are as defined herein.

The compound of formula (I) may be a copolymer, i.e. an oligomer or polymer comprising one or more constitutional unit M¹ of formula (I-B), which may be the same or different from one another, and one or more constitutional units M², which may the same or different from one another. Said one or more constitutional units M² are chemically different from the units M¹. Preferably, said one or more constitutional units M² are derived by polymerization of one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, acrylate, methacrylate and styrene.

Preferably the compound of formula (I) may be a homopolymer, i.e. an oligomer or polymer comprising one or more constitutional unit M¹ of formula (I-B), wherein all constitutional units M¹ are the same.

Exemplary compounds of formula (I) may be selected from the following formulae (M-1) to (M-50):

Exemplary oligomeric or polymeric compounds of formula (I) may be selected from the following formulae (P-1) to (P-50):

Further exemplary compounds of formula (I) may be selected from the monomers and polymers listed following Example 15.

For the purposes of the present application the term “derived by polymerization” is used to indicate that a double bond is formally turned into a single bond and two linkages to other atoms, said linkages being indicated by the two asterisks:

Preferably said copolymer comprises the one or more constitutional units M¹ in a molar ratio m₁ and the one or more constitutional units M² in a molar ratio m₂, wherein the ratio m₁:m₂ is at least 0.01 and at most 100.

The present oligomers and polymers may be made by any suitable method. It is, however, preferred that the present oligomers and polymers are made by radical polymerization, wherein the polymerization reaction is started by means of a suitable radical polymerization initiator. For the purposes of the present application the type of radical polymerization initiator is not particularly limited and may be any suitable radical generating compound. Such compounds are well known to the skilled person. Suitable polymerization initiators may be selected from thermal initiators or photoinitiators, i.e. compounds that generate radicals by exposure to heat or irradiation with light of a suitable wavelength. Examples of suitable thermal polymerization initiators may be selected from the groups of compounds comprising one or more peroxide groups, i.e. compounds comprising a group —O—O—, and/or compounds comprising one or more azo groups, i.e. compounds comprising a group —N≡N—.

Suitable polymerization initiators comprising one or more peroxide groups may, for example, be selected from the groups consisting of t-butyl(peroxy-2-ethyl-hexanoate), di-(tert-butylcyclohexyl)peroxydicarbonate and benzoylperoxide.

Suitable polymerization initiators comprising one or more azo groups may, for example, be selected from the group consisting of 1,1′-azobis(cyclohexancarbonitrile) and 2,2′azobis(cyclohexanecarbonitrile) (AIBN).

A suitable example of a photoinitiator is dimethylaminobenzoate/champherchinone

If a photoinitiator is used as polymerization initiator, it is preferred that the wavelength required to decompose said photoinitiator is different from the wavelength needed to irradiate the compound of the present application so as to change its optical properties.

Preferably, the radical initiators are used in an amount of at least 0.0001 eq and of at most 0.1 eq of the main monomer. Such radical initiators could be thermal initiators, e.g. azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) or photochemical initiators like dimethylaminobenzoate/champherchinone.

The present application also provides for a composition comprising the compound of formula (I). Depending upon the intended use such composition may comprise further different components. Such further components may, for example, be selected from the group consisting of UV absorbers, antioxidants and crosslinkers.

The UV absorber that may be used in the present composition is not particularly limited and can easily be selected from those generally known to the skilled person. Generally suitable UV absorbers are characterized by being unsaturated compounds, preferably compounds comprising one or more selected from group consisting of olefinic groups, aryl groups and heteroaryl groups; these groups may be present in any combination.

Suitable UV-absorbers for use in the present composition may, for example, be selected from those comprising a group selected from benzotriazole, benzophenone and triazine. Suitable UV-absorbers are, for example, disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,290,892; 5,331,073 and 5,693,095.

Suitable crosslinkers may be used to impart elastomeric properties to the present composition and the articles produced therewith. Typically any suitable di- or tri-functional monomer may be used as crosslinker. Such monomers are generally well known to the skilled person.

The present compound of formula (I) is particularly well suited for use in optically active devices. Hence the present application also provides for optically active devices comprising the compound of formula (I). Preferred optically active devices are ophthalmic devices. Examples of such ophthalmic devices include lenses, keratoprostheses, and cornea inlays or rings. More preferably, said optically active device is a lens. Most preferably, such optically active device is an intraocular lens, which may, for example, be a posterior chamber intraocular lens or an anterior chamber intraocular lens.

The present optically active devices may be formed by a process comprising the steps of

-   a) providing a composition comprising the compound as defined     herein; and -   b) subsequently forming the article of said composition.

Intraocular lenses in accordance with the present application are believed to show particularly advantageous properties in that they are flexible enough so as to be rolled or folded and consequently requiring a much smaller incision for them to be inserted into the eye. It is believed that this will allow for improved healing of the eye, particularly in respect to the time for the eye to heal.

The type of intraocular lens is not limited in any way. It may, for example, comprise one or more optic and one or more haptic components, wherein the one or more optic components serve as lens and the one or more haptic components are attached to the one or more optic components and hold the one or more optic components in place in the eye. The present intraocular lens may be of a one-piece design or of multi-piece design, depending on whether the one or more optic components and the one or more haptic components are formed from a single piece of material (one-piece design) or are made separately and then combined (multi-piece design). The present intraocular lens is also designed in such a way that it allows to be, for example, rolled up or folded small enough so that it fits through an incision in the eye, said incision being as small as possible, for example, at most 3 mm in length.

Additionally, intraocular lenses in accordance with the present application allow for the non-invasive adjustment of the optical properties, particularly the refractive power, after implantation of the lens into the eye, thus reducing the need for post-surgery vision aids or reducing or totally avoiding follow-up surgery.

In order to change the optical properties and particularly the refractive power of the intraocular lens it is exposed to irradiation having a wavelength of at least 200 nm and of at most 1500 nm. Hence, the present application also provides for a process of changing the optical properties of an optically active article as defined herein, said process comprising the steps of

-   a) providing an article as defined herein; and -   b) subsequently exposing said article to irradiation having a     wavelength of at least 200 nm and at most 1500 nm.

Preferably, said irradiation has a wavelength of at least 250 nm or 300 nm, more preferably of at least 350 nm, even more preferably of at least 400 nm, still even more preferably of at least 450 nm, and most preferably of at least 500 nm. Preferably, said irradiation has a wavelength of at most 1400 nm or 1300 nm or 1200 nm or 1100 nm or 1000 nm, more preferably of at most 950 nm or 900 nm, even more preferably of at most 850 nm, still even more preferably of at most 800 nm and most preferably of at most 750 nm.

EXAMPLES

The following examples are intended to show the advantages of the present compounds in a non-limiting way.

Unless indicated otherwise, all syntheses were carried out under an inert atmosphere using dried (i.e. water-free) solvents. Solvents and reagents were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich or ABCR.

Example 1—Acetic acid 3-phenyl-coumarin-7-yl ester

10.0 mmol 2,4-dihydroxy-benzaldehyde and 10.0 mmol phenylacetic acid were dissolved in 10 ml acetic anhydride and 5 ml pyridine. The batch was stirred at 135° C. for 72 h and then cooled to room temperature. The precipitated solid was filtered off with suction and rinsed neutral with water. The residue was dried at 40° C. in vacuo. The yield was 9.2 mmol (92% of theory).

Example 2—3-phenyl-7-hydroxy-coumarin

7.0 mmol acetic acid 3-phenyl-coumarin-7-yl ester were suspended in a mixture of 14 ml ethanol and 10 ml sulfuric acid (20%, aq.) and refluxed for 2 h. The batch was then cooled to room temperature, and the precipitated solid was filtered off with suction and rinsed neutral with water. The yield is 6.8 mmol, 97% of theory.

Example 3—Hex-5-en-1-yl methacrylate

The synthesis of hex-5-en-1-yl methacrylate was performed in accordance with a published procedure, see DOI: 10.1021/ma00174a057 and DOI: 10.1021/ma0714619. The reaction yielded 23.2 mmol crude hex-5-en-1-yl methacrylate (76% of theory) as a viscous yellow oil, which was used without purification for the next step. The recorded NMR spectra was found to agree with the data reported in the literature.

Example 4—Hex-5-en-1-yl acrylate

The synthesis of hex-5-en-1-yl acrylate was performed in accordance with a published procedure, see DOI: 10.1021/ma00174a057 and DOI: 10.1021/ma0714619. The reaction yielded 23.0 mmol crude hex-5-en-1-yl acrylate (75% of theory) as a yellow-orange oil, which was used without purification for the next step. The recorded NMR spectra was found to agree with the data reported in the literature.

Example 5-4-(oxiran-2-yl)butyl methacrylate

The synthesis of 4-(oxiran-2-yl)butyl methacrylate was performed in accordance with a published procedure, see DOI: 10.1021/MA0714619. The reaction yielded 1.11 mmol crude 4-(oxiran-2-yl)butyl methacrylate (75% of theory) as a colourless oil. The crude product was used without further purification. The recorded NMR spectra was found to agree with the data reported in the literature.

Example 6-4-(oxiran-2-yl)butyl acrylate

The synthesis of 4-(oxiran-2-yl)butyl acrylate was performed in accordance with a published procedure, see DOI: 10.1021/MA0714619. The reaction yielded 5.55 mmol crude 4-(oxiran-2-yl)butyl acrylate (24% of theory) as a colourless solid. The crude product was used without further purification. The recorded NMR spectra was found to agree with the data reported in the literature.

Example 7

60 mmol of 3-phenyl-7-hydroxy-coumarin were dissolved on 300 ml of Acetone. To this solution 60 mmol of potassium hydroxide dissolved in 15 ml of water were added. This reaction mixture was stirred for 1 h at slightly elevated temperatures. Through a syringe 70 mmol of glycidylmethacrylate were added dropwise and the reaction mixture then heated to reflux and stirred for 12 h at 65° C. After cooling to room temperature the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The remaining solid was dissolved in a mixture of ethyl acetate and water. The water fraction was removed and two further washings with water were performed. Finally the organic fraction was dried with magnesium sulfate, filtered and the solvent removed under reduced pressure. The remaining solid was purified by column chromatography using silica gel and a mixture of dichloromethane and methanol as the eluent. The yield was 18.5 mmol (31% of theory).

Example 8—5-Hydroxy-6-((2-oxo-3-phenyl-2H-chromen-7-yl)oxy)hexyl acrylate

Synthesized according to the experimental procedure described in example 3. The crude product was purified via column chromatography using cyclohexane/ethyl acetate as an eluent. 0.25 mmol (5% of theory) of the product were isolated as an lightbrown solid.

¹H NMR (500 MHz, acetone-d₆) δ 8.07 (s, 1H), 7.76 (d, 2H, J=7.4 Hz), 7.66 (d, 2H, J=8.5 Hz), 7.45-7.42 (m, 2H), 7.39 (d, 1H, J=7.3 Hz), 6.99-6.95 (m, 2H), 6.35 (dd, 1H, J₁=17.3, J₂=1.5 Hz), 6.15 (dd, 1H, J₁=17.3, J₂=10.4 Hz), 5.86 (dd, 1H, J₁=10.4, J₂=1.5 Hz), 4.19-4.03 (m, 6H), 1.78-1.67 (m, 4H), 1.64-1.53 (m, 2H). m. p.: 82° C.

Example 9—5-Hydroxy-6-((2-oxo-3-phenyl-2H-chromen-7-yl)oxy)hexyl methacrylate

Synthesized according to the experimental procedure described in example 7. The crude product was purified via column chromatography using cyclohexane/ethyl acetate as an eluent. 0.60 mmol (27% of theory) of the product were isolated as a beige solid.

¹H NMR (500 MHz, acetone-d₆) δ 8.07 (s, 1H)z, 7.76 (d, 2H, J=7.4 Hz), 7.66 (d, 2H, J=8.5 Hz), 7.45-7.42 (m, 2H), 7.39 (d, 1H, J=7.3 Hz), 6.99-6.95 (m, 2H), 6.10 (s, 1H), 5.56-5.54 (m, 1H), 4.19-4.03 (m, 6H), 1.95 (s, 3H), 1.78-1.67 (m, 4H), 1.64-1.53 (m, 2H).

Example 10—Polymerization of the Product of Example 7

10.0 mmol of the product of Example 3 was dissolved in dimethylformamide (100 ml). The solution was degassed by three freeze-pump-thaw cycles. 0.07 mmol of azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) were added to the solution and the reaction vessel was then placed in a 65° C. preheated oil bath for 3 days. At the end of the reaction, the mixture was poured into 1 l of cold methanol. The precipitated polymer was collected by filtration and yielded quantitative amounts of the corresponding polymer.

Example 11—7-[((E)-Octa-4,7-dienyl)oxy]-3-phenyl-coumarin

To an ice-cooled solution of 8.0 mmol of 7-hydroxy-3-phenyl-coumarin, 8.0 mmol of (4E)-octa-4,7-dien-1-ol, 11.5 mmol of triphenylphosphine in THF (18 ml), 11.5 mmol of diisopropyl azodicarboxylate was added dropwise. After stirring at room temperature overnight, the reaction mixture was evaporated. The crude product was purified by column chromatography to give 6.1 mmol of 7-[((E)-octa-4,7-dienyl)oxy]-3-phenyl-coumarin, 76% of theory. For further purification, the product was recrystallized in EtOH.

¹H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d₆) δ 8.21 (s, 1H), 7.72 (d, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 7.70 (d, J=8.6 Hz, 1H), 7.46 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 2H), 7.40 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 1H), 7.02 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 6.99 (dd, J=8.6, 2.4 Hz, 1H), 5.82 (ddt, J=16.6, 10.1, 6.4 Hz, 1H), 5.58-5.42 (m, 2H), 5.02 (dd, J=17.2, 1.9 Hz, 1H), 4.98 (dd, J=10.4, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 4.10 (t, J=6.4 Hz, 2H), 2.75 (t, J=5.7 Hz, 2H), 2.17 (q, J=6.4, 5.9 Hz, 2H), 1.83 (p, J=6.5 Hz, 2H).

Example 12—7-((E)-8-hydroxy-oct-4-enyloxy)-3-phenyl)-coumarin

A flask was charged with THF (0.5 ml) and 0.25 mmol of 7-[((E)-octa-4,7-dienyl)oxy]-3-phenyl-coumarin. The solution was cooled to 0° C. After 10 min, 0.25 mmol of 9-BBN (0.5 M in THF) was added dropwise via syringe over 30 min. The reaction was stirred for 1 h at 0° C., then for 1 h at 25° C. Then 0.7 mmol NaOH (aq, 2M) were added and the reaction cooled to 0° C. After reaching that temperature 2.0 mmol H₂O₂ (30% in water) were added dropwise over 10 min. The reaction was diluted with Et₂O and filtered through Celite. The organic filtrate was concentrated to give 0.14 mmol crude 7-((E)-8-hydroxy-oct-4-enyloxy)-3-phenyl)-coumarin (56% of theory).

¹H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 8.21 (s, 1H), 7.72 (d, J=7.1 Hz, 2H), 7.69 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 1H), 7.46 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 2H), 7.40 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 1H), 7.02 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 6.98 (dd, J=8.6, 2.4 Hz, 1H), 5.47 (t, J=3.6 Hz, 2H), 4.33 (t, J=5.2 Hz, 1H), 4.10 (t, J=6.4 Hz, 2H), 3.39 (q, J=6.5 Hz, 2H), 2.18-2.10 (m, 2H), 2.05-1.96 (m, 2H), 1.81 (p, J=6.6 Hz, 2H), 1.52-1.42 (m, 2H).

Example 13

5 mmol of 7-((E)-8-hydroxy-oct-4-enyloxy)-3-phenyl)-coumarin is dissolved in dry THF and Et₃N (4.0 eq.) is added. The solution is then cooled to 0° C. with an ice-bath. Acryloyl chloride (1.1 eq.) is added dropwise to the stirred solution. Directly after addition of the Acryloyl chloride a colorless solid is precipitating. The reaction is stirred overnight at room temperature. The suspension is filtrated and the solid is washed with additional amounts of THF. The filtrate is evaporated under reduced pressure and purified by chromatography using a mixture of cyclohexane/EE as an eluent. The monomer could be isolated in 85% yield.

¹H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 8.21 (s, 1H), 7.72 (d, J=7.1 Hz, 2H), 7.70 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 1H), 7.46 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 2H), 7.40 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 1H), 7.03 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 6.99 (dd, J=8.6, 2.4 Hz, 1H), 6.32 (dd, J=17.3, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 6.17 (dd, J=17.3, 10.3 Hz, 1H), 5.93 (dd, J=10.3, 1.5 Hz, 1H), 5.58-5.43 (m, 2H), 4.12-4.08 (m, 4H), 2.15 (q, J=6.2, 5.7 Hz, 2H), 2.06 (q, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 1.82 (p, J=6.6 Hz, 2H), 1.68 (p, J=6.8 Hz, 2H).

The procedure with methacryloyl chloride is the same, as the above described.

Example 14

General synthetic procedure for bishydroxylation reactions with OsO₄: 2.0 mmol of the corresponding acrylic monomer is dissolved in a mixture of acetone and water. The reaction mixture is cooled to 0° C. with an ice bath, followed by addition of 0.02 eq. OsO₄ (4 wt % solution in water) and 1.3 eq. 4-methylmorpholine-4-oxide (50% solution in water). The reaction is stirred overnight at room temperature. TLC analysis indicates the completion of the reaction. Sodium sulfite was added in such amounts to allow the reduction of OsO₄. The reaction mixture was extracted 3 times with n-butanol. The combined organic fractions are evaporated under reduced pressure. The remaining solid was purified by column chromatography using ethyl acetate as an eluent to obtain 1.4 mmol of the pure compound.

¹H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ 8.21 (s, 1H), 7.72 (d, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 7.70 (d, J=8.7 Hz, 1H), 7.46 (t, J=7.4 Hz, 2H), 7.40 (t, J=7.3 Hz, 1H), 7.03 (d, J=2.3 Hz, 1H), 6.99 (dd, J=8.6, 2.4 Hz, 1H), 6.32 (dd, J=17.3, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 6.18 (dd, J=17.3, 10.3 Hz, 1H), 5.93 (dd, J=10.3, 1.6 Hz, 1H), 4.40-4.34 (m, 2H), 4.17-4.09 (m, 4H), 3.39-3.31 (m, 2H), 1.97-1.87 (m, 1H), 1.84-1.72 (m, 2H), 1.69-1.57 (m, 2H), 1.56-1.48 (m, 1H), 1.48-1.40 (m, 1H), 1.40-1.31 (m, 1H).

Monomers Polymers

Example 15—Polymerization of the Product of Example 14

General polymerization procedure in solution: 10.0 mmol of the corresponding monomer is dissolved in dimethylformamide (100 ml). The solution is degassed by three freeze-pump-thaw cycles. 0.07 mmol of azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) are added to the solution and the reaction vessel is then placed in a 65° C. preheated oil bath for 3 d. At the end of the reaction, the mixture is poured into cold methanol (1 l). The precipitated polymer is collected by filtration and yielded quantitative amounts of the corresponding polymer.

Similarly the following monomers and the corresponding polymers may be synthesized: 

1. A compound of formula (I)

wherein a is 0 or 1; a′ is 0 or 1; R¹, R² and R³ are at each occurrence independently selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, partially or completely halogenated alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl and heteroaryl; one or both of R⁴ and R⁵ is a group of formula (II)

and, if only one group of R⁴ and R⁵ is of formula (II), the other of R⁴ and R⁵ is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, partially or completely halogenated alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl, heteroaryl, and R⁶—Sp-[X¹]_(a)—*; R⁶ is a carbyl group for a′=1 and for a′=0 is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, partially or completely halogenated alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl and heteroaryl; Sp is selected from the group consisting of alkanediyl, alkenediyl and alkyndiyl, wherein at least one hydrogen has been replaced with OH; X¹, X² and X³ are independently of each other selected from the group consisting of O, S and N—R¹⁷; R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ are at each occurrence independently of each other selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, R⁶—Sp-[X¹]_(a)—* and R¹⁵, wherein any two adjacent groups of R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ that are R¹⁵ may also form a ring system; R¹⁵ is at each occurrence independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, partially or completely halogenated alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, alkoxy having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, partially or completely halogenated alkoxy having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, thioalkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and partially or completely halogenated thioalkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms; and R¹⁷ is at each occurrence independently selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, partially or completely halogenated alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl and heteroaryl, provided that the compound of formula (I) comprises one group R⁶—Sp-[X¹]_(a)—*.
 2. A compound according to claim 1, said compound being of formula (I′)

wherein one or both of R⁴ and R⁵ is a group of formula (II)

and, if only one group of R⁴ and R⁵ is of formula (II), the other of R⁴ and R⁵ is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, partially or completely halogenated alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl and heteroaryl; R⁶ is a carbyl group; and R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ are at each occurrence independently of each other selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, and R¹⁵, wherein any two adjacent groups of R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ that are R¹⁵ may also form a ring system.
 3. A compound according to claim 1, said compound being of formula (I″)

wherein one or both of R⁴ and R⁵ is a group of formula (II)

and, if only one group of R⁴ and R⁵ is of formula (II), the other of R⁴ and R⁵ is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, partially or completely halogenated alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl and heteroaryl; R⁶ is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, partially or completely halogenated alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl and heteroaryl; and one of R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ is R⁶—Sp-[X¹]_(a)—*, with the others at each occurrence independently of each other selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, and R¹⁵, wherein any two adjacent groups of R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ that are R¹⁵ may also form a ring system.
 4. A compound according to claim 1, said compound being of formula (I″)

wherein one of R⁴ and R⁵ is a group of formula (II)

and the other of R⁴ and R⁵ is R⁶—Sp-[X¹]_(a)—*; R⁶ is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, partially or completely halogenated alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl and heteroaryl; and R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ are at each occurrence independently of each other selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, and R¹⁵, wherein any two adjacent groups of R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ that are R¹⁵ may also form a ring system.
 5. A compound according to claim 1, wherein R¹, R² and R³ are H.
 6. A compound according to claim 1, wherein R⁴ is H and R⁵ is a group of formula (II).
 7. A compound according to claim 1, wherein R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ are H.
 8. A compound according to claim 1, wherein Sp is of formula (III) —[C(R⁷)(R⁸)]_(b)—  (III) wherein b is at least 1; R⁷ and R⁸ are independently of each other H or OH, provided that at least one of the R⁶ and R⁷ present is OH; and wherein if b is at least two, two neighboring groups C(R⁷)(R⁸) may be replaced by an alkenediyl or wherein if b is at least three, two neighboring groups C(R⁷)(R⁸) may be replaced by an alkyndiyl.
 9. A compound according to claim 1, wherein X¹ is O.
 10. A compound according to claim 1, wherein X² is O or S.
 11. A compound according to claim 1, wherein X³ is O or N—R¹⁷.
 12. A compound according to claim 1, wherein such compound is an oligomer or polymer.
 13. A compound according to claim 1, wherein R⁶ is a group of formula (IV-B)

wherein X⁴ is selected from the group consisting of O, S, C(═O), C(═O)O and N—R¹⁷; c is 0 or 1; and R²⁰, R²¹ and R²² are at each occurrence independently of each other selected from the group consisting of H, F, alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, partially or completely halogenated alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl and heteroaryl.
 14. A compound according to claim 1, wherein said compound comprises at least one unit M¹ selected from the group consisting of the following formulae (I-B′), (I-B″-1), (I-B″-2), (I-B′″-1) and (I-B′″-2)

wherein one of R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ is a group of formula R⁶—Sp-[X¹]_(a)—* and R⁶ is a group of formula (IV-B);

wherein one of R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ is a group of formula R⁶—Sp-[X¹]_(a)—* and R⁶ is a group of formula (IV-B);

said at least one unit M¹ being, if there are two or more, at each occurrence the same or different, wherein X⁴ is at each occurrence independently selected from the group consisting of O, S, C(═O), C(═O)O and N—R¹⁷; c is at each occurrence 0 or 1; and R²⁰, R²¹ and R²² are at each occurrence independently of each other selected from the group consisting of H, F, alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, partially or completely halogenated alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl and heteroaryl.
 15. A compound according to claim 14, said compound further comprising at least one unit M², which at each occurrence is independently selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, acrylate, methacrylate and styrene.
 16. A compound according to claim 15, said compound comprising units M¹ and M² in a ratio m₁:m₂ of from 0.01 to
 100. 17. A compound according to claim 1, wherein R⁶ comprises an olefinically unsaturated group.
 18. A compound according to claim 1, wherein R⁶ is a group of formula (IV-A)

wherein c is 0 or 1; X⁴ is selected from the group consisting of O, S, C(═O), C(═O)O and N—R¹⁷; and R²⁰, R²¹ and R²² are carbyl.
 19. A compound according to claim 1, wherein said compound is selected from the group consisting of formulae (I-A′), (I-A″-1), (I-A″-2), (I-A′″-1) and (I-A′″-2)

wherein one of R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ is a group of formula R⁶—Sp-[X¹]_(a)—* and R⁶ is a group of formula (IV-A);

wherein one of R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R¹³ and R¹⁴ is a group of formula R⁶—Sp-[X¹]_(a)—* and R⁶ is a group of formula (IV-A);

wherein X⁴ is selected from the group consisting of O, S, C(═O), C(═O)O and N—R¹⁷; c is 0 or 1; and R²⁰, R²¹ and R²² are at each occurrence independently of each other selected from the group consisting of H, F, alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, partially or completely halogenated alkyl having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, aryl and heteroaryl.
 20. A composition comprising the compound of claim
 1. 21. An article comprising the composition of claim
 20. 22. An article according to claim 21, wherein said article is an optically active article.
 23. An article according to claim 21, wherein said article is an ophthalmic device, preferably an intraocular lens.
 24. A process of forming an article, said process comprising the steps of a) providing a composition comprising a compound of claim 1; b) subsequently forming the article of said composition.
 25. A process of changing the optical properties of an article of claim 21, said process comprising the steps of a) providing an article of claim 21, and b) subsequently exposing said article to irradiation having a wavelength of at least 200 nm and at most 1500 nm. 